Stinger Lands Anchor Job With Fox Affiliate

BY M.L. ELRICK
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER

Fanchon Stinger will be back on the air soon — even on a Fox affiliate — but this time the former Fox 2 Problem Solver and morning anchor will read the news in Indianapolis.

Stinger is to debut as an anchor of the 10 p.m. news on Fox 59 in Indianapolis on July 6. She also will co-anchor the station’s 5 p.m. news broadcast when it debuts in September.

It has been two years since Stinger left Fox 2 (WJBK-TV) in Detroit, her career derailed by revelations that she was involved with Rayford Jackson, a key figure in the Synagro sludge-disposal scandal.

Jackson is serving five years in federal prison for bribing Detroit officials to win approval of the billion-dollar deal. Former Councilwoman Monica Conyers admitted trading her vote for money and faces 37 months in prison. Stinger cooperated with federal investigators and was not charged.

Stinger accused Jackson of manipulating and abusing her, which he denied.

In an e-mail Tuesday to the Free Press, Stinger wrote: “I am truly honored to have been asked to come to Indianapolis and work for employers who exhibit the utmost character and who have demonstrated the highest level of integrity and respect for journalistic ethics. I thank them for believing in me personally and professionally.”

Lee Rosenthal, news director at Fox 59 (WXIN-TV), said he liked Stinger’s commitment to community involvement and expects her to have a “positive impact with kids in need.”

“She has a great energy and personality and she’ll quickly build a trust with the viewers in central Indiana,” added Rosenthal, who said he did a “heavy, thorough process” backgrounding Stinger before hiring her.

“She may have made some decisions that weren’t best in her personal life, but certainly nothing that should prevent her from this opportunity or any opportunity,” he said. “She’s very talented.”